​Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018

Dubai will host the first and second Solar Decathlons as part of a partnership between the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, DEWA, and the US Department of Energy. The second SDME will be held in 2020 to coincide with Expo 2020 Dubai.

The first SDME is organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai from 14-29 November 2018.

The Solar Decathlon is an international competition created by the U.S. Department of Energy, in which global universities are challenged to design, build and operate a grid-connected, solar powered house. A total of 21 teams representing 28 universities from 11 countries are taking part in the competition. The 21 teams shortlisted for the competition include a team from Ajman University of Science and Technology; the American University in Dubai; Heriot-Watt University Dubai; New York University Abu Dhabi; the American University of Ras Al Khaimah; The Petroleum Institute and Zayed University; Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan; Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands; Virginia Tech, USA, among others.

SDME encourages the participating teams to design, build, and operate sustainable models of solar-powered homes, with a focus on protecting the environment, taking into consideration the climate of the region.

The participating teams will compete in 10 contests: architecture; engineering and building; energy management; energy efficiency; comfort conditions; house functioning; sustainable transport; sustainability; communications, and innovation.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD & CEO of DEWA, urged the public to visit the 60,000 square-metre SDME site at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer model, highlighting its significant role in Dubai’s transition towards renewable and clean energy.

This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to provide 75% of the Emirate’s total power output from clean energy, and establish a sustainable model to provide energy and support economic growth, as well as make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050.

Timings:
Sunday to Wednesday: Solar Village 9am-6pm Solar Houses: 9am -noon Thursday to Saturday: Solar Village and Houses: 9am-6pm